Los Angeles daily herald., 1887-06-27
FRATERNAL.
A Splendid odd Fellows, Temple
EpxU Mates.


A Few Notes.
The Odd Fellows of Burlington, Iowa
dedicated last week one of the best ant
most expensive lodge halls in the state
A large crowd of people were present L
witness the imposing ana interesting
ceremonies. The building is OF pressed
brick with cut stone and terra cott
trimmings, and is one OF the ornament
of the city. 1t covers an area OF 6OXo'
and stands four full stories high witt
an ample basement beneath. Thi
sub story aud the first floor ara de-
voted exclusively to business. The sec
ond floor contains an elegant suit o
office rooms, also the assembly hall O
the order; a spacious apartment intend
ed for balls, miscellaneous gatherings
and similar occasions. The broad stair
case that admits to the building opens
into large well lighted ball. and leads
on to the third floor. Upon this are
situated the fine double parlors and the
lodge room proper with its ante ROOM
The parlors are roomy and homellke,
and handsomely furnished. Pictures
and emblems adorn the walls, comfort
able chairs abound in profusion and an
elaborate Gabler upright piano lends an
added charm.
rhe ante. room is an inner aplrtm ent
and but dimly lighted from the outer
windows, as becomes its mysterious
character. A heavy green carpet covers
the floor, containing in inwrought fig-
ures the emblems of the order. A fine
chandelier furnishes artificial ilamina
ton when needed,
Stepping eastward from this room,
which stands at the head of the stair.
way, we find the lodgeroom-one of the
finest sanctuaries possessed by the order
anywhere. 1t occupies The entire east.
efn end Of the building, and upon 1t
have been lavished the most devoted
affections of the lodges of the city. A
rich heavy carpet covers the floor, its
light ground relieved by delicate trac-
cry of colors, the whole lending fine eff
feet to the other elaborate decoration ard
ornam entation of the room. The ceiling
is lofty and bevtlled and the numerous
windows that stretch upward toward it
and admit food of light by day and
afford a perfect ventilation at all times.
The walls and ceilings ne elabor-
ately aud artisic.iiy ire coed, the
colors and designs harmonlzlng per
fectly with the general appointments.
The station of the Noble Grand, at the
northern end of the room. is rich speci.
men of the work of the skilled artsan in
wood and is regal in its appointments.
The station of Vice-Grand, at the OPP
posite end, is less magnificent and i'm
posing, but equally appropriate and
tasteful. The minor stations appear in
their places duly adorned and bedecked,
and between them appears double
rank of easy chairs, devoted to the con.
venience of the members of the order.
A fine cabinet organ is seen among the
other furniture, used in the singing and
worship of the lodge ceremonies. The
draped axe, the crozier aud the other
emblems of office appear at the stations
of the officers. From the ceiling depend
three elegant FURNISHED brass chande-
liers, while side lights in keeping supply
the stations named.
The fourth floor contains less space
than either OF the other three, the lofty
ceilings of the lodge room catting off a
considerable portion of it. 1t is devoted
solely to the office of )mforting the
hungry and thirsting inner man, and
contains simply the roomy and conven-
lent kitchen and the adjoining dining
hall, capable of seating l50 persons at u
time, and is neatly and completely fur.
nished throughout.
Viewed from without, the building is
handsomely proportioned and construct
ed with skill aud taste. Its external
ornamentation is striking and elrborate,
and it stands an appropriate monu.
ment to the order which has built it and
to the intelligent industry and thrift
of the lodges which were especially
charged with its conception and cree.
tion.
The Independent Order of Odd Eel
lows comprises a larger number OF the
citizens of Burlington than any other
secret order, and is one of the oldest, if
net the oldest, secret order of our city.
The orier was instituted III Burlington,
Iowa, April 4, 1874, in one of the upper
rooms OF the old building on the corner
of Washington and Front streets, the
building now known as the Burlington
House. District Deputy Grand Sire
John &. Potts, of Galena, His, inst
tu!ed the lodge.
Washington Lodge No. |, thus founded,
was the nestor OF the Iosa lodges and
has siuce proven itself worthy Of the
name. From the humble beginning
made in Burlington for,y.tbree years
ago has grown "a magnificent army of
members of this order. The report OF
VIM. Garrett, the grand secretary OF the
order in Iowa, shows that there are 465
lodges with membership of 2l,46l, ,and
l03 lodges of the dsug hters of Rebekah
of 1888 members. During the year, 1897
were initiated and l5l died, and $35, 2Sl
was expended for the relief of members,
of widows and orphans, for burying the
dead and other purposes. The annual
receipts of the order in Iowa were SILL
oil 27, and the current expenses. eX-
elusive of benefits, $40, 600 46. Forty.
three years ago the order started with
out. cent; to-day the subordinate
lodges have $3.50 534 invested funds.
In review of the fact that the order
was instituted in this State at Burling-
ton and has grown and spread from this
point, the erection of the fine building
and the ceremonies of it's dedication to
the purposes of the order are possessed
of special aud peculiar interest.